"NEVER EVENTS"

In the Week in Words column in the Wall Street Journal, December 22-23, 2012, the following appeared:

                                   never events

They are known as "never events" -- the kind of mistake that       should never happen in medicine , like operating on the wrong patient or sewing someone up with a sponge still inside -- yet new research suggests that they happen with alarming frequency.

As we have come to learn, never events are happening every day at JFNA. Let us count the ways -- at least some of them:

• #ish -- what the hell was that all about? And...why? Perhaps ask that one Large City -- was it good for you?
• Community Heroes -- another wasted investment at least, perhaps, a good idea. One Large City that adopted the program claimed 1000's of applicants and "some great ideas." Where do those stand today?
• The TribeFests -- oh, more over-hyped than any other non-program has ever been before. Two years and close to $2 million wasted before the thing was put on hiatus. Did no one have the courage to tell CEO Jerry that he was directing the waste of precious assets, or should he have known?
• Personnel -- a great hire to run the GPT -- and the GA...and a few other things -- run off by mismanagement  and disillusionment within the first year of her hiring. (She has been replaced, we read, by a Klezmer band-leading, enthusiastic  former Federation pro (from Northern New Jersey) , the former "Co-Director of Community Planning and Capacity Building" at his federation. Qualifications for "planning the Global agenda,' who knows?); the JFNA Senior Advisor on all things who was  flipped to JFNA by his federation as had been that federation's CEO a decade earlier, will reportedly retire in June leaving no footprints in JFNA's sand, to be succeeded by: a successful federation pro who knows the FRD "business" or one of the JFNA sycophants with no federation experience on his/her resume? Sam Astrof, a paragon of integrity as CFO/COO gone with hardly a good-bye. Adam Smolyar, JFNA Chief Marketing Officer, resigned to pursue that role with a for-profit real estate company. A most seasoned administrator and fund raiser run off the reservation because she was found to have communicated with the press. Friends, between the hiring of Mindy Hepner and Danny Allen (really a UIA/IEF engagement) and retaining William Daroff to run JFNA's Washington efforts among other responsibilities, three terrific professionals, the recruitment and management of JFNA's personnel has been...well, you call it. (And Debra Smith...still there)

What you have is JFNA rapidly becoming a "never event" itself.

Rwexler

SAME OLD JETS

In New York City  (or somewhere in New Jersey), toward the end of a 2012 football season that can be charitably described as a debacle, fans of the New York Jets were heard to announce, behind masks and with bags over their heads,, that these were once again and apparently forever, the "same old Jets." For, after all, what can one say about a season in which the "Highlight" was what has come to be known as the "butt fumble?"

And then came JFNA's professional leader announcing what was 2012's JFNA "Highlights" -- the shutdown of TribeFest. Yes, TribeFest, the "butt fumble" of Jewish organizational life. JFNA finally (maybe) shut down programs that were ridiculous from the start -- these shut downs (add #ish and Community Heroes to a long sad list) were the equivalent of someone hitting you over the head for the past three years, then stopping and expecting thanks.

As we have noted on these pages, JFNA's administration over the past six, and especially the last 3, years has been a true opera bouffe. Hysterical...but not in a funny way.

Back to those Jets: it used to be that the fans would chant "JETS. JETS. JETS;" now the chant has become "MESS, MESS, MESS." And so it has become at 25 Broadway. If the new Co-Chairs don't act it will continue to be "MESS, MESS, MESS."

Rwexler

NERO FIDDLING...

As I write this Post, I am in Jerusalem where everyone with whom I have spoken -- from family members, to academics, to those in the government and political process -- has told me in the most stark terms that Israel's economy is (or soon will be) in crisis. The impacts will fall, as everywhere else, on Israel's most vulnerable, those living near or in poverty in this Land that we love and whose people we cherish as our mishpacha. 

And, I fear that at a time when we most need our national and international  agencies to be laser-focused on our historic obligations to care for those most vulnerable, wherever they may live, I find JFNA distracted and deflected by the machinations of the Global Planning Table and some form of Strategic Directions   that would move us away from those obligations as if they do not even exist. A brief history: when JFNA began 12+ years ago, it did so burdened with the ONAD (you remember, although it best forgotten, "the Overseas Needs and Distribution" process). After a year of in-depth study, ONAD determined under a brilliant Chair, that there should be no change in allocations until such time as allocations to our partners increased and, then, that those increases be appropriately adjusted. I won't bore you with further history other than to note that five years later, after no increases in these allocations, Steve Hoffman and others led the charge to terminate the ONAD process after an overly ambitious ONAD Chair attempted to unilaterally override the ONAD Committee's decision to maintain the allocations for the self-same reasons as were articulated in Year 1 of the "process."

And, here we are once again -- only the times are worse. But we are "here"  without a Steve Hoffman as CEO of JFNA, not even close (although Steve is intimately involved with the GPT), with another overly ambitious Chair of the GPT Steering Committee, and with a CEO who has articulated to many that a failure to approve GPT (one might ask fairly "approve what???") will mean that JFNA will self-destruct (as if, given what has happened with our money, starting over would be a bad thing). 

So, while here I have come to literally feel the social welfare safety net falling apart, at 25 Broadway they are studying ways to divert our allocations from serving vital, basic needs in Israel and elsewhere in the Jewish World where the needs are greatest, to "other things." Why? Because we have told them "go ahead, let's see what you come up with." While we should be saying: "Shut this GPT, this thing, down and now.  

Meanwhile, Nero fiddles while Rome burns....again.

Rwexler

WASTE

I print this JFNA Briefing in its entirety:

"Jerry Silverman Meets With President Obama in Advance of Presidential Visit to Israel  March 7, 2013

Today, Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America, along with other national Jewish leaders, met with President Obama at the White House to discuss the President's upcoming trip to Israel. “On behalf of The Jewish Federations of North America, I very much appreciated the opportunity to meet with the President about his upcoming trip to Israel and the Middle East. As Jews and as Americans, we are proud to see our President visit our ancient homeland and engage with the Israeli people. The President’s trip is yet another demonstration of the continued strength of the deep and historic bonds between the United States and Israel.”

I am so happy for Jerry, aren't you? Do you see anywhere in this Briefing that JFNA (not Jerry) was invited by the Conference of Presidents along with representatives of each of its 51 member organizations (and the White House added "other activists"); that this Briefing was about as filled with information as a blank page (for the details, read Nathan Guttman's informative 10 paragraph article on the meeting in The Forward at www.forward.com; and is CEO Jerry that needy that he had to be instead of an important donor or other lay person? (You may recall that when Michael Siegal, who is, after all, the Board Chair, chose to accept an earlier White House invitation, CEO Silverman was rumored to have been stomping around his office muttering that it was he who should have been there!!)

I wrote an FOB that this was so pathetic; that leader wrote back that "pathetic is almost sweet; this is just ____ ugly." It was also pointed out to me that when the State of Israel was created it "...ceased to be our ancient homeland and became our Modern State." Ohhhh, but that's in Israel's Declaration of Independence and that's so 1948.

Rwexler

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A SIMCHAT TORAH PAST

In 1986 my wife, Bobbi, Chicago's CEO, Steve Nasatir, and a beloved Chicago Rabbi, our friend, Willy Frankel, z'l,  traveled to the then Soviet Union, as had so many North American Jews in those dark days. We went, unaccompanied and unafraid, as so many before and after us, to tell all of those courageous and beautiful Jews of the USSR with whom we met, that they would never be forgotten and that we had joined them in their fight for freedom. It was an unforgettable journey, with story after story of darkened hallways, furtive meetings on Metro platforms, of so many who we would later meet with in Jerusalem and elsewhere, of marveling at the courage of a small number of people who were growing into a torrent. But, on this Simchat Torah 2012, I want to write about another Simchat Torah -- over a quarter-century ago...in Moscow.

We were told by everyone with whom we met that they would see us again "on the Holiday." We were told even before we left Chicago that "you won't believe what will happen on Simchat Torah." So, bundled up, we set off at sundown from our Hotel to the plaza fronting the Moscow Choral Synagogue. And, there we found the Jews of Silence in ever greater numbers...first, 1000's and then, 1,000's and 1,000's more. They gathered everywhere, and around us, slipping notes into our outstretched hands, speaking Yiddish with Willie Frankel who interpreted their pleas, dancing and singing, hugging. And we joined up with Eli Wiesel who was in the USSR with the then NJCRAC, now JCPA. Their message -- "don't forget us"....and ours back "we will never forget you." On into the night.

And, we never forgot them. None of us forgot them.

Chag sameach.

Rwexler

THE ETERNAL SHELL GAME

Now you see it; now you don't. The one constant at JFNA over the years has been the shell game. Some times it's played by the CEO and his staff, sometimes by a lay chair so focused on his/her agenda, that even lying is permitted for "the greater good," of course.

With all of its eggs in the Global Planning Table basket, and that process still controlled by a Past Chair who just will not, cannot let go, and her willing CEO (well not "hers" anymore except in her mind), and the larger federations generally interested in preserving the overseas allocation process to their own leaders, not some group controlled by others  (and certainly not JFNA), the GPT is now, for the first time, being rationalized as "something for the Small Cities." If this gets any worse, pretty soon CEO Jerry will be running around shouting "Do it for Kathy; oh won't you do this for poor Kathy, she wants it so much." It is truly bizarroooo world, my friends. 

How much has this doomed exercise -- and I mean "doomed" from the beginning -- cost the federations. Has anyone asked for an accounting? Demanded an accounting from Day 1? Has anyone said to Kathy and Jerry: "We're putting this on hold until we know the costs to date and to come? David Butler....ever ask? Michael Siegal...would you please ask? Our new Chairs are now in charge, aren't they?

Now you see it; now you don't...it's JFNA.

Rwexler

MEH

Was it just me -- after watching the GA Plenaries on JLTV (a great service) and listening quite carefully -- or did those of you who attended find this to be a most desultory GA, one totally lacking in evidencing the power of the federation dream? How sad that we have been reduced to this.

Oh, there were moments, there were highlights. Among them for me:

• The introduction of the Board Chair, Michael Siegal, whose self-effacing address evidenced a new and welcome leadership style;
• The dialogue between Elie Wiesel and Natan Sharansky, two of the great heroes of modern Jewish history, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the zenith of the Federation system. Sad that no one from within the Federation system joined them to make the connection between the collective action that took place that day and what we achieved as a People going forward from that day. Why not?
• Gail Norry's beautiful and meaningful presentation on what federation has come to mean to her and her family in such a personal way. All else is commentary.

Unfortunately, I think that "desultory" is the most descriptive of terms. Some have speculated that this was so because amcha is waiting for the Global Planning Table to be delivered down from the mountain to save us from "the split." I fear great disappointment when what is delivered from on high proves to be but another golden calf. (BTW, the "split" has become nothing more than a red herring [if I can be permitted to use golden calf and red herring in successive references]. That "split" became honored mainly in the breach over five years ago and the market has dictated how allocations are made even longer ago than that.) We still do not know how much has been and how much will be spent on this golden calf that will in the end only divide us further if the GPT continues down the thoughtless path it has been following.

So now we will look toward Jerusalem for GA 2013. Rather than let the incoming Chairs select the GA Chairs for 2013, as should be the practice, JFNA's former leaders chose those who have already had that privilege (at least once, maybe more). Perhaps those who were already so anointed will show their leadership by declining and graciously offering our new Chairs the opportunity to use the 2013 GA for new leaders to serve. But, then again, probably not.

In all events, let us hope that the 2013 GA will offer real opportunities for federations themselves to put on display their "strategic approaches to change" rather than those being nothing more than words in an observer's speech.

Onward.

Rwexler



 

SCAMS

I have suggested that the Global Planning Table is but a scam worthy of Three Card Monte. But, that's just part of it. The GPT is just a distraction, a very expensive diversion designed to keep our attention away from the day-to-day disasters coming out of 25 Broadway where painting failure as success is a day-to-day activity. Some examples may suffice:

1. Completing the Journey. In early 2012 or late in 2011, I can't remember anymore, the then Chairs and the current CEO did what they usually did when funding of a special need is required: They sent a letter to the federations seeking $5 million as the system's obligation to finish the aliyah from Ethiopia. Then, as they always do, they waited for the checks to come in -- and a few did. But, not much. Did JFNA's leaders visit the federations and plead, pound the table, mobilize its lay leaders? No, they ran some Missions to Ethiopia, magnificent, emotional and meaningful -- chaired by, among others, the National Campaign Chair. Fund raising...come on. JFNA raised and transmitted $938,000 of a $5 million commitment...a commitment that used to mean something. By mid-2013, JFNA realized it was in trouble (duh!!), and it turned up the pressure -- the New York UJA-Federation pledged $1.1 million (+/-) and the Jewish Agency reduced the total need to $3 million (not that the costs diminished, oh, no, just that JFNA told the Agency it would raise only $3 million; JAFI would have to absorb the balance). And, JFNA sent out another letter as is its wont; and raised  and transmitted another $40,000 -- yes, that's a whole $40,000. So, against an ask of $5 million, JFNA "raised" all of $978,000, New York UJA another $1,168,000 and JAFI has received $1,813,00. I'm waiting for the boxes of documents and conference calls to explain to you how this "Journey" got "Completed."   
2. The Negev. On March 18, in a lengthy Leadership Briefing, JFNA announced that its Negev Funding Coalition Appoints New Chair. The Briefing was, in the main, a means of thanking past and welcoming current leadership to the Coalition, listing the participating federations and announcing the "second funding cycle for two minor programs -- the sum total of all this effort; all these federations, all these leaders. Yet, there are those of us who remember when the focus on the Negev began as a joint venture among the Government of Israel, the federations and the Jewish Agency. We knew this would be an incredible opportunity requiring an investment of $100s of millions of dollars -- two priority regions were identified with the Government of Israel...and, now, these baby steps are the result? What a shame; what a travesty; what a disgrace. Within the GOI, JFNA has to be nothing more than a "joke of the day." As one who was engaged in this "process" from the beginning has observed: there is "...no institutional memory, no obligation to fulfill commitments, and no continuity of leadership." But, it's so much worse than all of those -- it is a history of promises made, promises broken. Follow the cups and that little pea.
3. Ibim. Then there is Ibim -- the major Absorption Center and Youth Village for the Falashmura. The beautiful place where the "Journey" continues in the mainstreaming of the Ethiopian Israeli population.  At one time a Western Region federation was the named partner in the funding of Ibim: signs of thanks were erected celebrating the partnership and JFNA, for a time, worked hard to assure that the community's support would not merely continue but grow. But, in the need to pursue new shiny objects, JFNA dropped its advocacy for Ibim  and that community -- the partner forever -- dropped its support -- leaving only the signs celebrating the "partnership." Where did this leave Ibim -- well JFNA was "selling" again -- no doubt another letter went out. It made one of its "commitments" (this means something else in JFNA-speak, of course) to JAFI (see 1. above) for $1.1 million -- so far JFNA has paid $520,000.

Friends, it's worse than Three Card Monte; it's way worse than The Shell Game...it's JFNA. 

Rwexler                 

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CATCHING UP IS HARD TO DO

I suppose that I could have titled this Post Deja Vu All Over Again, because , like Groundhog Day, that's what JFNA is...has become...always was.  For example....

• I was terribly wrong about a forthcoming umpteenth "Strategic Plan" to be sprung on an unsuspecting JFNA Board at the imminent Board Retreat. In keeping with the rebranding that has become the one constant at JFNA, the Board will experience the roll-out (which it appears it will not see in advance but be expected to discuss) of the...drum roll please...Strategic Initiatives Project. Yes, this "project" we are now told "...will enable JFNA to focus its resources on the issues of most importance to the Federation system." Pardon me, isn't this what we had expected JFNA to actually have been doing these last 13 years(at a cost in excess of $600,000,000)? I, for one, can't wait...And, these don't appear to be the very Strategic Initiatives sprung on an unsuspecting GPT Committee one month ago? So, while the Global Planning Table hasn't yet literally swallowed up the entirety of JFNA, this is but a sideshow...a constant one. "Strategic Initiatives" -- everywhere.
• The latest transmittal from the tiny group that is bringing you the catastrophic Global Planning Table, continues to take the federations down a disastrous path toward calamity. Now, although only a privileged few have actually seen it, your federation and mine have received a "Toolkit" prepared by these GPTers with which we are to "engage" (as only these characters define "engagement") our leadership with...something. You start with a thing called (and I am not making this up) The GPT Community Input Session Pre-Reading Document -- yes, your community and mine is supposed to "pre-read" this "background info." I guess before you read...ahhh, never mind. But, that's not all, there's a "Facilitator's Guide" -- in actuality, a five page, single-spaced script that you facilitators are apparently to read out in haec verba to the assembled --  and, leaving nothing to chance,  a "Community Input Session PowerPoint" to facilitate (that includes "audio clips of GPT Chair David Butler..." -- which, in reality, are the best evidence that the GPTers don't really trust you to "facilitate" even with a script and a PowerPoint as these "audio clips" preempt you from leading this session and substitute Butler instead -- maybe the GPTers can send on a hologram as well) ) that consists of 28 slides. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the Facilitator's "Guide" to suggest that participants bring a cot or air mattress. What the GPTers are demanding is really nothing less than total acceptance of their dictation of outcomes within a very narrow framework in the guise of a community "process."
• You remember our Post on those December GPT Webinars where Chair Butler spelled out the "Strategic Initiatives" that had never been discussed before. Well, surprise surprise, those are now the topics for communal considerations as if they had been vetted somewhere...anywhere. Thus, the Global Planning Table continues down the path determined only by its leaders. THIS IS NUTS.
• So, these "Strategic Initiatives" are to become the raison d'etre of JFNA going forward? Or will it be some alternative universe in which countless Strategic Initiatives are "debated." Give us a break.

Yes, friends, plus ca change...$600,000,000(+) and counting.

Rwexler

* I should note that on January 23, the Board Chair, with confidentiality warnings transmitted the Strategic Initiatives document. Given the strictures on confidentiality, I have not revised the Post above.

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This seahorse table lamp is the perfect accent to rooms with beach or nautical themes! Made of cold cast resin, it measures 20 inches tall, has a 5 3/4 inch diameter base, and comes with a 14 inch diameter linen shade. The lamp has a 5 foot black power cord with a thumbwheel on/off switch, and uses up to 40 watt (max) type `A` bulbs (not included). The lamp is hand painted, has a wonderful distressed finish, and is sure to be admired.

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Blue Swirl Glass Table Lamp

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Product Description
The brilliant blue glass base of this table lamp swirls gracefully upward. It's a refined look that adds both clarity and color to any setting. The art glass body is complemented by chrome finish metal accents at the stand, neck and finial. It's topped with a clean off white drum shade. Blue art glass base. Chrome finish accents. Off white drum shade. Takes one 100 watt bulb (not included). 21" high. Shade is 12" wide, 9" high.

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POTPOURRI

A few GA items of no special moment:

1. The Count. For those of you enjoying the GA, know that JFNA has counted you at least 4 times to arrive at its "more than 3,000" attendance number. If JFNA had been responsible for creating the Omer,  know that it would be 365 days a year.

2. Tours. It has been reliably reported to me that for some the best thing about this year's GA location is that almost directly across the street from the Marriott is a "Gentlemen's Lounge" (i.e., JFNA-speak for a strip club). Called "The Goddess." I guess that is what JFNA meant when it said it would hold future GAs in "the most attractive tourist destinations."

3. Sad.  One FOB claims that she was walking past one of the suites at the Marriott when she heard through the closed door the following: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most powerful woman of them all?" And, in response, a low growl: "Not you anymore, m'lady, sorry." Now, I can't believe this story is anything other than an old fairy tale, but a good one as I recall.

4. Transparency. JFNA has a large and no doubt cutting edge IT Department, adept at, among other things, at the orders of the bosses, at checking out the hard drives of those suspected of "disloyalty." But, when really needed, where were they...those, like me and many others, who actually wanted to participate in the JFNA Board meeting, called in at 6:15 CST only to be confronted by static (or unable to connect at all) until about 8:30 when JFNA leaders reported that the "connectivity issue" had been resolved. Of course, the Board meeting was over by then.

6. And...finally. At what I have heard was a lovely reception in honor of the new Chair of the Executive, among others, the now former Board Chair felt compelled to speak. In her remarks she reflected on the fact that she began each day infuriated by whatever might have appeared in this Blog -- a fury only exceeded, as she reported, by that experienced by the now former Chair of the Executive. And, this from the person who had told me to my face that the only time she read UJThee was when someone sent it to her. Thus, as she ended her appearances at the GA, Ms. Manning admitted that which she had for all these years, she, too, is a FOB!!

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